"MAIL" LIBEL CASE.
[from our own correspondent. J
Dunedin, March 19,
The State prosecution of -Mr. George Jones for libel came to a termination last evening, the result being, as nearly everybody expected it would be, one of acquittal. The evidence adduced by the Crown did not amount to much. It merely went to prove the publication of the alleged iibel the nature of the article, and the "eneral impression left on the minds of witnesses after reading it. Mr. Whitaker w.is cross-ex .mined by Mr. Rees at considerable length, especially in regard to several land transactions in which he had been engaged ; but owing to the pleas of justification put in on behalf of the defendant being excluded, the evidence was not of so startling a nature as was expected. No evidence was called for the def-nce, and after counsel had addressed the jury on both sides and his Honor had summed up, the jury retired. After a few minutes' absence they returned with a verdict of not guilty.
There were several warm passages during the day between Mr. Haggitt and Mr. llees.
In the course of his address. Mr. Rees referred to the plea of justification being struck out, and said that when the matter was before the House the Attorney-Gene-ral (Mr. Whitaker) promis< d that all the facts should be inquired into for the purpose of clearing himself of the imputations. When the case came to trial, he found that the whole of the evidence could not be put on trial, and yet in the House of Representatives and in the witness-box that day Mr. V\ hitaker appeared to be very anxious to have these matters brought out. But he appeared to agree with the demurrer, so as to deny to the country an opportunity of testing whether the statements made by the defendant were true or false. He said that the object of the article wr.s to stop the passing of the Native Lands Court Bill, which would have been dangerous to the public welfare ; and he contended that the article was not libelous at all. Mr. Jones had rendered good service to the country by assisting to stop the passing of the Native Lands Act, 1877-
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Bibliographic details
Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 585, 19 March 1878, Page 2
Word Count
371"MAIL" LIBEL CASE. Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 585, 19 March 1878, Page 2
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